Chapter Four
Hermione, suddenly snapping out of her romantic trance, exclaimed, "RON!"
"What!" Ron said standing up in alarm, picking up his shirt from the floor and yanking it back on over his ruffled head.
"Do you know what time it is?" Hermione asked. "We've been in here for nearly an hour!"
To Ron's dismay, his wristwatch read that it was lunch time, meaning he had missed Charms completely. "Damn." He said.
"Let's get out of here," Hermione said, and grabbing his hand pulled him to the door, opened it cautiously, checking to make sure they didn't have any unwanted visitors meandering outside, and pulled Ron through.
They walked silently to the Great Hall for lunch, sitting down next to each other, across from a surprised and yet, amused, Harry.
"Where've you two been?" said Harry, winking at Ron.
Hermione, nervously glanced at Ron, who's ears were beginning to turn a bright shade of red. She suddenly remembered how cute he looked when he did that and couldn't help but smile in spite of herself.
"Now for you Ron," Harry began, "skipping class is understandable. But you, Hermione? You ought to be ashamed of yourself! Fifty points from Gryffindor." Harry scolded, jokingly.
Hermione thought to herself, Actually, I really don't mind that I, Hermione Granger, was actually skipping a class. Why could this be? She wondered. Was it that she and Ron were together, and she was most definitely enjoying it, and wouldn't give it up for anything?
Ron and Hermione laughed at Harry's impression, but were quickly silenced, when their noble and well-respected headmaster, Professor Dumbledore stood up from the staff table and began making an announcement, "Good afternoon! I would like to remind you all that Hogsmeade weekend is just around the corner! I know you all look forward to that, so make sure you have your signed permission slips, allowing you to go." And with that, Dumbledore waved his arm, brandishing bowls, plates, and platters of a variety of delicious foods amongst the house tables.
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Over the next two weeks or so, Ron and Hermione seemed to grow more fond of each other by the minute. They often snuck up to the seventh floor during breaks (and more cautious of the time), had some private snogging sessions.
On one of these occasions, after breaking apart from a long, enduring, passionate kiss, Ron looked into Hermione's gorgeous brown eyes, and simply drowned in them. Merlin, she was beautiful! He thought to himself, the way her bushy hair framed her delicate, pale face; how her adorable dimples protruded from his skin when her lips curled into a radiant smile.
"I love you, Hermione; with all my heart."
Hermione closed her eyes and allowed him to kiss her. Hermione could feel the truth in his words, within the kiss. Making his way down to her neck, he kissed her softly and heard her whisper, "I love you too," she paused. "I don't know what I would do without you."
Ron looked again to her face, and her elegant features. Without breaking his gaze, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box, wrapped in crimson paper, a tan ribbon surrounding it. Next to the bow, a small tag read, To Hermione, my girl. I love you
Hermione took it, throwing a furtive glance at Ron, before unwrapping it.
"Oh, Ron!" she squealed in delight, for in the box lay the most luxurious silver ring, and on the inside, Hermione read an engraving; When I look at you, I fall in love all over again. Yours, Ron
Hermione began bawling, and seeing Ron's alarmed face, smiled, assuring him they were tears of happiness.
"Thank you," Hermione managed to whisper, between sobs. She knew that it must have cost a fortune! And how on earth had Ron – no offense – got the money to pay for it? Although she loved him, only because of who he was, and not how much money he had, she couldn't help but wonder...
Ron took it from her, and slid it gracefully on her ring finger of her right hand. They looked at each other and began a whole new series of snogs. This time, it felt more special, and romantic. Ron wrapped his arms around her body, pulling her closer to him. It was every girls' dream. Ron, without warning, pushed her (with care, of course) against a wall of the Room of Requirement, his arms on either side of her, kissing her with such a burning passion. Oh, did he adore her so! The way she returned the kiss, he could tell that they were meant to be. Here she was; the girl of his dreams, and there was no way he was going to let her go.
The following morning, there was a noticeable excitement in the air within Great Hall at breakfast and when Ron and Hermione marched into the Great Hall, Ron's arm around her waist, several heads turned, and nosy, gossipy girls began whispering about the two's obvious relationship. "Are they dating?", "Since when?", "Is that a ring on her finger?", etc.
Harry glanced up from his plate as the two approached the Gryffindor table. Taking a double-take, he noticed that there was definitely something going on between his two best friends. A twinge of jealousy hinted inside of him, but it quickly disappeared as they sat down across from him.
"'Lo, Harry!" Ron beamed.
"Hey Ron," he replied, "Hermione," nodding in her direction. "So..." Harry was hesitant to ask Ron and Hermione what had happened. "So, Ron," he began again, "you and Hermione, are, um..."
"Together?" Ron finished. "Yeah." He turned to Hermione, kissing her gently on the lips.
"So, it's true?" A cold, malicious voice spoke up. "The Weasel and the filthy, little Mudblood have fallen for each other at last."
Ron turned, spying Malfoy sneering from the Slytherin table behind them.
"Shut up," Ron warned.
"Aww; standing up for thy dear love, are we?" Malfoy said, mockingly. "Pitiful."
"I mean it, Malfoy," the tips of Ron's ears turning red with anger, "lay off."
"Ron," Hermione began, laying a hand on his arm, "it's alright; let it go."
"No, Hermione," said Ron, turning to Hermione, his heart beating with hatred, "no one calls you a 'Mudblood' in front of me." Ron began pulling out his wand.
"Please Ron; don't!" Hermione pleaded. "I don't want you to get in trouble."
Reluctantly, Ron lowered his wand.
"Fine," Ron gave in, "but if I ever hear you talking about Hermione like that again," he threatened, "you'll answer to me," he finished waving his wand, and lowering his eyebrows to show Malfoy he meant business.
Malfoy rolled his eyes and turned back to continue his conversation with his comrades, Crabbe and Goyle.
"Thanks Ron," said Hermione, "but I don't need you to always come to my rescue. I'm a big girl; I can take care of myself."
"I know that," said Ron, "that just offended me; that's all. And," lowering his voice so only Hermione could hear, "I love you and no one talks about my girl like that."
She kissed him on the cheek and grabbed his hand under the table, as they began treating themselves to Cornish pasties, roast beef and for dessert, treacle tarts.
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Harry, Ron, and Hermione made their way out onto the grounds and to the small village of Hogsmeade.
"Where to first?" Harry asked, once arriving at their destination.
"Well, I don't know about you," Ron said, "but a couple butterbeers sounds pretty appealing."
Harry and Hermione nodded in agreement, and Ron seizing Hermione's mittened hand (for winter was settling in), led the way to the Three Broomsticks. Harry flinched.
As they trudged through the streets of Hogsmeade, Ron and Hermione's hand-holding attracted attention. People gave them positive comments about their being together. Suddenly, Harry began feeling uncomfortable. Was it just him? Or was he the third wheel, here? And why was he so damn agitated about them being together? Over the past few weeks that they have become "an item", Harry had been very negative and pessimistic. Whenever he saw them holding hands, smiling at each other, or worse, snogging, he felt angry. Why was he feeling this way? Again the idea of jealousy came to his mind; why would he be jealous? It's not like, he thinks of Hermione in that way...does he?
As if it was an answer to his questions, he heard his name "Harry! Ron! Hermione!"
Turning around, he saw a red-headed Ginny Weasley, come rushing towards them. Now, although Ginny was one year younger than Harry, as well as Ron's "baby sister", he hadn't ignored the fact that Ginny was a very attractive girl. Her red, silky hair complimented the structure of her face perfectly; her freckles were clustered almost symmetrically over her porcelain face. He fancied her, but knew she was totally out of reach, being that she was Ron's sister and all. Ron; his best mate.
"Hey!" She called again. "Dean, Seamus, and I are meeting some other people at the Hog's Head for a while. Would you guys like to join us?"
Ron and Hermione had a disinclining look on their faces. Harry, noticing this, and feeling like his was an intrusion anyways, and invited the time that he and Ginny could spend together, said, "I'd love to! Ron? Hermione? Do you mind?"
"Of course not!" Hermione said, not succeeding in a subtle approval.
"Have fun, you two!" Ginny called, as she and Harry took off to the Hog's Head. Ginny winked behind her shoulder at the two and said, "But not too much fun now, you hear?" Ron and Hermione looked at each other and laughed. Good ol' Ginny, Ron thought to himself.
A/N – Any references to Professor Dumbledore are of course assuming he is still alive, considering they are in their 7th, and final, year at Hogwarts.